Seriously? June is almost in the rear view and the summer swelter is officially in gear. After a day of floating the river, dipping at Barton Springs, or simply avoiding the temps, get out on the town for some sweet live music.
This week, we recommend spacey ’70s folk rock, a wild folk/punk band with a 20-year career (and counting), and a bouncy pop/rock group designed around fun and Austin weird. Stay cool, stay awesome, and listen local.
Friday, June 28
Ryan Quiet w/ Altamesa
@ Stay Gold (1910 E. Cesar Chavez) – 10 p.m. – Facebook event
Spacey, feel-good folk rock with a ’70s edge, Ryan Quiet’s subtle harmonies and sonic landscapes promise to sweep you away. Tracks like the ethereal “Take My Side” and the mournful acoustic guitar strum and swoon of “EVRYDAY” create a vibe that’s felt as much as it’s heard.
And it’s all in support of a “rent party.” For the uninitiated, these events are “pass the hat” performances where attendees are encouraged to contribute what they can to an artist’s basic living expenses. In this town, the financial hardships of those who contribute to our greatest cultural art form is a known issue. Any chance we can help musicians in need is a welcome opportunity.
Saturday, June 29
Pataphysics
@ Switched On (2400 E. Cesar Chavez) – 5 p.m. – Free show
Lo-fi synth rock with a distinctive post-punk slant, Pataphysics is one of the random, delicious discoveries that make this series so fun to compile. And for the first time in a long time, I’m a touch flummoxed. A mad mixture of chip-tune bleeps, random acts of percussion, and a host of early Internet modem sounds and AOL clips, the “Computer Chair EP” is so baffling, it’s brilliant.
On Saturday, the band celebrates the release of its second 2019 record, “The Future of Synth Rock,” a 29-song opus of ’80s rage and electronic squall. Required for anyone looking for a band sitting on the right side of crazy.
Stretch Panic w/Saucy Yoda
@ Hard Luck Lounge (3526 E. 7th) – 6 p.m. – Facebook event
Continuing this week’s trend of lo-fi punk energy, all-female riot grrrl band Stretch Panic takes the Hard Luck Lounge stage for an evening of snarl guitars and bouncy percussion. Fun, poppy garage rock songs about vampire infatuation and occult crushes, Stretch Panic’s sound bypasses the usual earworms and invades the brain with an inescapable, infectious sound.
And to tack onto the theme of helping bands in need, the show celebrates the launch of Stretch Panic’s Indiegogo campaign–the band wants to fund its next record. Given the joy and Austin weird presented in 2017’s “Ghost Coast EP,” I’d love to hear a little more from this hella-fun three-piece.
@BillTuckerTSP wants to know:
Which Austin bands are you checking out this weekend?
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